The Bison’s defense exceeded its goals holding the Spartans to 30.4 percent shooting, a season best defensive effort for Lipscomb (10-11, 5-4 A-Sun).

Lipscomb’s only lead of the game was a three-pointer by senior Jordan Burgason to kick off the contest. Burgason entered the game as the NCAA’s newly crowned 3-point leader shooting 53.6 percent and making 4.0 per game.

Four minutes later Burgason hit his second three – and Lipscomb’s second free goal. The pace had been established. Between his treys, Lipscomb had missed four field goal attempts and committed four turnovers.

Upstate forced Lipscomb to play catch up the remainder of the game after stringing together a 12-2 run over a span of five minutes to take a 31-18 lead with 2:43 to play before halftime.

A three by Burgason and a pair of baskets by Jacob Arnett brought the Bison to within eight, 33-25, at the half.

Deonte Alexander hit a 3-pointer and Justin Glenn had a dunk to start the second half putting Lipscomb three points shy of tying the game.

Upstate scored on the subsequent three possessions and within a minute and a couple ticks from the game being nearly tied, the Spartans had a ten point lead back.

Lipscomb would bring the game to within three points twice more. The first time was on three by Martin Smith with 4:44 remaining and then by a Jacob Arnett trey with 1:33 left.

The Bison’s shooting struggles continued at the free throw line. In the second half Lipscomb was 5-of-12 from the line. Burgason, one of the top free throw shooters in the country, missed three shots at the 13:22 mark after being fouled in the act of shooting a three.

The Bison missed all three attempts in the final four minutes including the front end of a bonus opportunity. Lipscomb was 8-of-16 from the charity line on the game.

It was Lipscomb’s lowest scoring output since Jan. 13, 2010 in a loss to Belmont when the Bison also scored 52 points

Alexander and Martin Smith led Lipscomb in scoring with ten points each. Burgason added nine points on three 3-pointers.

For the eighth time in ten games, Lipscomb’s opponent held the rebounding advantage. Upstate collected 51 boards to Lipscomb’s 43. Ricardo Glenn led Upstate with 14 boards while Justin Glenn had a team-high seven for the Bison.

Upstate scored 15 second chance points on 22 offensive rebounds.

Torrey Craig had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season for the Spartans.

Lipscomb has a week to reset before hosting North Florida Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Allen Arena for Star Wars Day. The Bison lost 82-61 at North Florida on Jan. 4 in Jacksonville. The Lipscomb Sports Network presented by Jackson will broadcast the game on 102.5 The Game in Middle Tennessee and on LipscombSports.com